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WASHINGTON - A key priority for the United States is "rebalancing" trade relations with Asean countries - but Washington prefers bilateral to collective agreements, said Ambassador Jeffrey T. Gerrish, Deputy US Trade Representative for Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Industrial Competitiveness.

In his first public comments since his appointment in March, Mr Gerrish, a former trade attorney, said: "The United States does a lot for Asean in terms of market access. We need Asean to do more for us.

"Whether they relate to agricultural imports in Thailand, or vehicle barriers in Vietnam, localisation requirements in Indonesia, or emerging barriers to electronic payment services in several countries, we will work with our Asean partners to address and resolve these issues successfully and to our mutual benefit."

WASHINGTON DC — [Editor’s Note: VOA Khmer reporter Men Kimseng interviewed Marc Mealy, vice president for policy at the US-ASEAN Business Council, on the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of US-ASEAN relations. The Council, based in Washington, D.C., is a trade association that promotes business links between the US and the 10 countries that make up the ASEAN bloc.]

VOA: This year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN. How is the region doing in terms of trade and regional security?

Greetings from Washington. Fall has arrived in the nation’s capital and with it the cool weather.

The change in seasons, however, has not deterred Washington from keeping its focus on ASEAN. Both Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin and Secretary of Defense Mattis have traveled to the region in the last two weeks. Secretary Mnuchin attended the World Bank-IMF Fall Meetings in Bali, Indonesia while Secretary Mattis visited Vietnam on his way to the ASEAN Ministers of Defense Meeting Plus in Singapore. This continued engagement is a clear indication of the Trump Administration’s commitment to ASEAN Centrality and the IndoPacific Policy.

The US-ASEAN Business Council concluded its annual business mission to Malaysia today with 28 leading U.S. companies. The three-day mission was the first to engage the new government since the Pakatan Harapan’s historic election win in May. During the mission, the delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Malaysia’s dynamic growth and discussed the importance of continuing to create a business environment that encourages trade and investment.